“Nittel Nacht”, The Full Story by Rabbi Pinchus Taylor

There is time honored practice to desist from learning Torah on the night that Yeshu’s birth is celebrated. Even the most illustrious of our sages, from the Maharsha to Rabbi Yonoson Eibschutz to the Rebbeim, all refrained from learning Torah on that night, and instead invested their time in other productive matters. This is not a universal Jewish custom, but something still adhered to in many Chassidic communities.

There are several speculated origins of the term “Nittel.” Some suggest Hebrew language roots, related to the root for “taken away” or “hanged,” as a reference to Yeshu. Others point to the Latin, “Notale,” meaning birth (as in prenatal care).

Rabbi Pinchas Taylor, a shliach in south Florida, gave an in-depth lecture on this fascinating topic to a Chabad-house crowd, explaining the history of this day, the customs surrounding it, and its relevance to the Jewish community.